Stage, film and television actor G.W. Bailey will reign at Bacchus XLV on February 10,2013. Bailey currently stars on the TNT series Major Crimes, a spinoff of The Closer, continuing in his role as Lt. Provenza.

A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Bailey has enjoyed an extensive career as a dramatic actor and for portraying "crusty" comedic characters such as Staff Sergeant Luther Rizzo in M*A*S*H, Captain Thaddeus Harris in Police Academy, Captain Felix Maxwell in Mannequin and Detective Lieutenant Louie Provenza in The Closer. He also landed roles in Starsky and Hutch, Rustler's Rhapsody and Charlie's Angel's.  

Bailey also serves as Executive Director of the Sunshine Kids, a nationally recognized foundation dedicated to children with cancer. Bailey was introduced to the Sunshine Kids by his goddaughter Brandy Aldridge who had been diagnosed with leukemia. During the last 15 years, Bailey has significantly increased the number of young cancer patients who participate in Sunshine Kids programs which provide positive group activities to patients and their families.

"The Krewe of Bacchus is excited to have G.W. Bailey as our forty-fifth King," said Krewe Captain Pip Brennan. "G.W.'s commitment to young cancer patients ties in well with Bacchus' work each year at Children's Hospital," said Brennan. "We know G.W. is looking forward to both meeting the patients at Children's and reigning over Mardi Gras' premiere parade."

The Krewe of Bacchus parade was founded in 1968 by a handful of New Orleans business leaders whose dream was to revolutionize Mardi Gras with larger and more spectacular floats, a more diverse membership, and a national celebrity as king. Bacchus staged their first parade in 1969 with 250 members and fifteen floats. Bacchus has now grown to 1,350 members and 33 animated super-floats.

Recent Bacchus monarchs have included Will Ferrell, Andy Garcia, James Gandolfini, and Nicolas Gage.